Choose A Family : Parent Profile
Tracee and Mark
Hello, we are Tracee and Mark. Thank you for taking a few moments to read about us and discover who we are and what has ultimately brought us to you. Through our words and pictures, we hope to introduce you to us and show you the loving and nurturing home we would provide your baby. We share a deep loving relationship. Our diverse backgrounds make us unique and helps provide balance and stability to our life. Our dream of having children has been met with many setbacks, but we know that through adoption we will be blessed with the family we’ve wanted for so long. Should we have the honor of adopting your child, we promise to provide all the love and support we have to share. May you make the best decision for you and your baby.
About Us
We have been happily married for almost seven years, but it was nine years ago that we first met in a local bookstore coffee shop. Mark, a lifelong bachelor and Buffalo NY transplant, was fresh off his first failed attempt at snowboarding with a badly swollen left hand to show for his efforts. Tracee had stopped in after a hard day’s work to kill time browsing magazines before starting her long commute home. Mark invited Tracee to share one of the few remaining open seats at his table. As their conversation continued, minutes became hours and Tracee eventually consented to sharing her phone number and accepting a date with the persistent and charming Buffalo boy. Things must have gone well from there as less than two years later we celebrated our wedding in a beautiful restaurant with views of the ocean and city lights.
Since we were both in our thirties when we married, we knew it wouldn’t be long before we focused our attention on starting a family. We tried for three years without success. Although heart-breaking, this challenge strengthened our relationship and ultimately opened our hearts to adoption as our way of becoming parents.
Meet Tracee (by Mark)
Tracee is a warm and loving person, who cares deeply for her friends and family. She does everything she can to support them. Tracee has natural mothering instincts and helped to raise her own younger brother and sisters. Marrying Tracee is without question the best thing I’ve ever done. She is the most wonderful person I’ve ever met and brings incredible joy to my life. I could not imagine life without her.
Tracee grew up in Orange County, CA and has been living here ever since. She is Hmong and was born in Laos during the Vietnam War. Sadly, Tracee lost her birth mother and younger sister during these turbulent times. When the war abruptly ended, her family was forced to flee their home and live in a Thailand refugee camp for several years, awaiting an opportunity to emigrate to freedom in the United States. Tracee’s family finally arrived in the US in 1979, settling in Orange County. She is the third oldest of seven children (she has two brothers and four sisters), all living in California with the exception of a younger sister who recently moved her family to Connecticut.
Always ambitious and motivated for success, Tracee put herself through college and was the first one in her family to graduate with a college degree. Tracee works as an advertising consultant from her home office and manages a flexible schedule that will be extremely helpful should she decide to return to work after we adopt.
Meet Mark (by Tracee)
Mark is kind, loving and intelligent. His easy-going, imaginative and creative personality compliments mine perfectly. I admire his outstanding character traits of honesty and integrity. He is the love of my life, my partner and my best friend. I thank my lucky stars for Mark every day and I know he’ll be a wonderful father. He shares my love for the outdoors and nature.
Mark grew up in Buffalo, NY with one older brother. His father passed away when he was less than a year old, leaving his mother Charlotte to raise them as a single parent with support from Mark’s grandparents. While the family struggled financially, Mark’s mother provided a wonderful childhood for her boys and raised them to be responsible adults with good morals and a strong work ethic. While he was in college, Mark’s mother passed away after a lengthy illness. After graduating, he began a successful career in the Buffalo area, never imagining he would leave his hometown. But when the company he worked for was sold, Mark faced the decision to continue his career in a new city or start over again in New York. After weighing his options, he decided to move to sunny California.
Mark is Research and Development Manager for a large coatings manufacturer and truly enjoys his career! He earns five weeks of vacation each year and has the flexibility to work from his home office whenever necessary. Mark’s company will allow extended time off for him to spend time with their newly adopted baby.
Tracee Loves…
- Mark – We enjoy spending time together, hiking trails or walking along the beach
- Gardening - Vegetables, tropical plants & succulents
- Traveling – Local & international travel and sightseeing
- Photography- Landscapes, wildflowers, profiles
- Hiking- Shady trails, ocean views & nature
- Culture Events – Hmong New Year, Polish Festival, etc.
- Cooking – Healthy foods
Mark Loves…
- Tracee – She’s not only my wife but my best friend
- Animals - Tigers, dogs and fuzzy mammals of all varieties
- Sports - Baseball, basketball, football - in that order
- Automobiles – Classic American cars
- Remodeling – Repairing and painting our home
- Working Out – At the gym, biking & hiking trai
Our Family & Friends
We both enjoy gathering family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner, camping and fishing trips, or even massive family reunions. Annual events include a Hollywood-themed Oscar’s party each spring and a BBQ/pool party every summer. We love to be surrounded by our family and friends, especially our littlest niece and nephews. I adore watching Mark help them draw with crayons, go down slides at the playground or teach them to swim in our pool. Our family can’t wait for the newest addition – they couldn’t be more supportive!
Our Home & Community
We have a beautiful two-story home on a quiet cul-de-sac with views of the hills and city lights. It’s a warm and welcoming place to come home to after a busy day. Our home provides a wonderful escape for many visiting family and friends. There is a large eat-in kitchen that opens up to the spacious backyard with in-ground swimming pool and spa. Our side yard is home to a lovely fish pond and garden area. Of course, one of our five bedrooms is just waiting to be converted to the baby’s room.
Our neighborhood is like a small slice of country life within the big city. Surrounded by beautiful parks and nature trails, the streets are always filled with neighbors walking pets and children at play. Our residential community is home to one of the best school systems in the state. There is a wonderful neighborhood park and elementary school within walking distance of our home. We’re fortunate to enjoy moderate weather on a year round basis so we can enjoy the nearby beaches or mountains. We like to think we can be “on vacation” almost every weekend!
Our Promise
Thank you again for taking the time to get to know us. We promise to provide your child our unconditional love and a future full of adventure and opportunity. Our truly wonderful extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins stretches from California to New York to Florida. Many friends are already patiently waiting for their opportunity to baby sit for us. Most importantly, we have tremendous love to share and dream of the day when we can start a family of our very own. Your child will always know where they came from and what an angel you are for blessing us with them. We wish you strength and peace in making this difficult decision.
Tracee and Mark
If you have an questions for us, or would like to talk to us about adopting your child, please contact an AdoptHelp advisor by Calling 1-800-637-7999 or clicking the "Contact Us" button below.
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